The PPE necessary as well, so we have a good idea of what they need. We're gonna provide a conduit for all of these facilities to obtain testing not only for the residents before their employees and we also be working closely with the state and others in purchasing an obtaining equipment that these facilities need and distributed to them in the weeks to come. Last but not least, I wanna thank the employees of Camden County. They have done a tremendous job working day in and day out through this crisis, in addition to the health services being provided, we have been delivering meals to those in need as of today. Camden County employees have delivered over 40000 meals to those in need and I can't say I can't express enough how proud. We are as a board who have our employees know what they're doing providing this much needed sex safety net during this time of crisis, and if you know anybody that needs a meal, senior or not, please call eight 568 58 322 zero eight 568 58 322 zero, and we will make sure that we add that person or you. To our delivery list with that I would like to introduce our Congressman Donald Norcross, our congressman has done a fantastic job working with us. We speak on a daily basis, he has made himself available to participate in the meetings like this and he's worked so hard to obtain to get legislation through the Congress that helps not only our small businesses, but authorities our health care systems in our residents. I can't thank you enough. Congressman for the hard work you're doing day in and day out on behalf of our residence and welcome to the meeting. Thank you little and to you and the board for what you've been doing each and every day in South Jersey, the information that you're bringing to our constituents so important they're looking for the truth. They're looking for a straightforward and certainly you're doing that. so some women Greenwald good to have you on again and what's this about our 60 -fifth 10 home meeting and mayor great to have you, but we're virtually in Chisel Hurst right now wonderful town, but we wanna make The trend continues and bringing information so what I wanna do here is obviously we're in a very different situation since our last town Hall in the fact that the coveted is our absolute main focus. so I say that from a federal side quite frankly as soon as we're finished with this town Hall, I'm gonna jump in my car and drive to Washington for the vote tomorrow on the latest bill, they caught the cares one point five with. Is to reload much of the money that was depleted going to very good issues. we have to take care of that, but let me back up a little one. Just reiterate reiterate but lose those front line workers the first responders the police the fire, the MS, the health care workers, the doctors the nurses, those who are keeping hospitals, clean and safe the text. They're all doing a great job and certainly for those. On the front line of sexual workers at supermarket my God, you're doing a great job. You're keeping America running and we really appreciate it from keeping the lights on keeping fresh water. Those are the things we normally don't think about, but you're making our life. absolutely better than it would be without you. I'm at the idea of somehow having your lights go out of your water turned off scares us. Make sure it's funny, but I just wanted to touch base on the three items. It's been about response to the virus what we can do from a health side to make sure that we're addressing it relief for families and we seen that in the two previous bills, we passed up touch base on that in a moment and certainly recovery we can't wait to get our country back to where it was well. It's never gonna get back to exactly where it was, but it will get back to what we. Called the new normal, but we have to do it in a fact based decision making process. not we feel something cuz the worst thing we can do is go back to work and have this fire hit us worse than it did this time around. So that's the idea of the testing that's going on when we look back over the course of last six weeks, one to two percent just one to two percent of the public has been tested. That's not enough information for us to go on. we you know our vote tomorrow will be passing almost 20 - five billion dollars to create a National testing strategy. the administration has been very reluctant to embrace this, but it needs a National strategy and thanks to Chairman Pallone from New Jersey who has been the forefront of pushing us. We really appreciate that, but let's back up the first bill that we passed was just the emergency funding eight point three billion dollars. To go to the hospital, the health care workers started vaccine process that was back on March sixth literally a couple of weeks later, we passed some family first Chrono Response. That's the one that was under 90 - two billion. I talked about paid sick leave the family leave those things that people were experiencing at that moment. How am I gonna pay for paid care? if there's no school all these issues that came in and then the care exactly. Was passed on the 20 -seventh two trillion dollars, the largest bill ever passed by Congress implemented within two weeks dealing with that is the unemployment we're gonna hit almost 20 percent unemployment if we haven't hit it already astronomical numbers not seen since the Great depression. So what did we do? You've got the $1200 that was pandas got unemployment excuse me the economic impact Up to $1200 in our website, we interviewed the IRS who is administering this fund. if you wanna see it and see some questions answered talks about how to access where that money is are you going to get through direct deposit or through in the mail If you're going to get it as we call through the mail system, we can only issue five million checks a week. There's a available on the website. How to register for direct. So you might wanna take a look at that and we increased 13 weeks unemployment now, hopefully we won't need it as much as we all we did when we passed it, but we really are in unchartered territory. so we wanna make sure that was there for you the PHP program, which talks about small businesses. That's the one literally within two weeks. it ran out of money and that's one of the main focuses going down tomorrow. Washington 480 - three billion dollars, much that going to the hospitals I talked about the testing but also disaster loans trying to keep businesses up and run last, but not least I just want to talk about the future. what plans that we have as Congress to try to mitigate some of the long-term effects of this virus. we literally are taking in ideas on a daily basis but When the injury. Things is we're seeing what we did and how effective it wasn't making us adjustments. if you have any questions, you have any issues we're up over 600 percent in the calls coming to our office, but that by we're there, we're there to help you in any issues in my hat so 427 7000 everybody's working remotely, but it comes in through our office and Norcross Dot House dot Gov is the website and next. I will turn it back over to Freeholder Kelly and we'll look forward to your questions. Thank you. Thank you Congressman. That's a great update as to where we are and where we stand. our next Speaker is a seminal Greenwald from the sixth district. Suddenly Greenwald has been an invaluable resource for Camden County government and our residents in dealing with this crisis. I can't even list of the amount of bills that he's been involved in that will help bring the leaf to our residency in New Jersey and in the sixth district. he's always been a great friend, The Camden County and we're very lucky to have him as the majority leader of the New Jersey State of. Greenwald preorder Thank you for having me here at today's speak about our ongoing efforts to combat this virus as well as answer any questions from our listeners and viewers today, first and foremost I I know these are incredibly uncertain times and scary times for many of our Camden County residents. Everyone should know that our government is still open. We taken steps important steps to make sure this crisis does not affect our Democratic process and that we in the Legislature still able to work unnecessary legislation to address the issues that we're facing on a day-to-day basis. General Assembly recently held a remote voting session. We were the first legislative body in the nation to do this at either the state or the federal levels becoming a National model. It's not our. It's not our our favorite choice. We'd like to get back to the face to face but in a crisis like this critically important we pass legislation giving municipalities additional time to send out vote by mail ballots. No resident should be not denied the ability to vote because of this shutdown we passed legislation alone. Public bodies, including municipalities and counties, the whole meetings and other public businesses from only it's important to our Democratic process that our residents still have the ability to participate in government even if it's from their homes. and of course, our legislative offices are still open during this time. We're here to help you navigate the difficult and different resources that are now available in this new world. Be an unemployment insurance family leave loans and grants for closed businesses. etcetera. Please don't hesitate to call or email our office that way we might be able to help you navigate this process and work together to help find the. Solutions to the problems that you're facing our response to this crisis needs to be in collaboration with our local state and federal partners. Pre-home talked about the daily dialogue is having with the congressman and with us and and with us with our municipalities where we feed it back to all three levels of government. This is how I think that collaborative effort that level of partnership is how we've been successful in the past, and I think that level of partnership will get us through this crisis as well. My approach to this problem has been to really attack this as two trains on parallel tracks on one track. We're working 20 - 47. To help and safety of our residents and on the other our economy, what we've been focused on these past couple of months as the pandemic and making sure our health care infrastructure is able to handle the coveted patients before we can begin to return to a new normal, our state as a whole has over 90 - 2000 positive cases, and as of today, unfortunately, in those positive cases a little over 5000 deaths. Camden County has over 20 - 300 positive cases, and as the freeholder spoke about we track these cases every day we track it. Make sure that our hospitals are stable as well as to help us guide the process As to win, We will flatten out the curve and and make sure that we're not over burdening our hospitals but also help us open responsively. However, our response efforts so far have been promising. We recognize that the strain Covid-, 19, is putting on a hospital, so we passed legislation that makes it easier to license and certify medical professionals during the public health emergency. The governor is used this to allow retired medical professionals as well as medical professionals from other States not hit as hard. US to help support our frontline efforts in combating this crisis we as a state are now beginning to see more people leaving the hospital. The mentoring it's very positive. sign thanks to the social distancing efforts and especially the efforts of our frontline health care workers that have been in the Middle of this from the very start and the number of patients in critical intensive care has remained stable. Of course, we wanna see this number go down as well, but this is a good sign that our hospitals are able to care for our critical patients. We're increasing our testing capabilities as well. There are roughly 70 testing. Sites but public and private up and running across our state. There are three drive-thru testing sites available now in Camden County alone. The need for testing is critical to us to get through this crisis and prevent more people from being unknown carriers. It will also be critical as we open to make sure that we don't regress back into the position that we're in now, New Jersey is leading the nation in research and innovation that combat Covid- 19 Corelle Institute, a program that's near and dear to our hearts. on this call, It's a program that And I have funded through Donald's time in the state Legislature and my time and sharing the budget Committee. Corey has been working directly with cope with Cooper Hospital to develop a saliva test with the FDA has recently authorized for emergency use for diagnosing this virus and the words of Governor Murphy. This is a game changer in the Cancer Institute and a program that we have funded New Jersey's only nationally designated cancer research facility has started treatment trials for Covid- 19, which will undoubtedly Important to our recovery in two patients at Virtual hospital and board for the first eight to receive the much reported plasma transfusions and both patients are now often lately and recovering a massive huge accomplishment and milestone. We've made sure not to forget the other health needs of our residents during this crisis, we pass legislation expanding the number of health care practitioners that can practice telemedicine and we've expanded insurance coverage for Tall health. This is proven to be critically. Mental health services, which are unfortunately needed during a time like this until now those of you to visit with your primary care doctor. By means of telling medicine. I'm incredibly proud of the work or health care workers. First responders and medical researchers are doing to help us protect the health of our residents. However, while our most immediate need is keep people safe and healthy, we also need to focus on the second track, which is the economic recovery. Many of us have had businesses closer. We've had laid off work and and there is a lot of uncertainty about how we will bring our economy back four in 10 Americans have. Income due to a decrease in work, this includes Americans of all income levels and over one in five Americans reported a struggle and paying their bills. New Jersey State finances have taken a massive hit as well. We're getting reports that the sales tax revenue could be down as much as 50 percent employer with holding down 15 percent. corporate business tax down at least 20 - five percent to give us some time to see if these projections are true and the wrap our heads around the economic impact we've taken an unprecedented step to move the tax filing deadline to July fifteenth the match the work in The federal government. And move our state budget deadline to September thirtieth the governor's put over one billion dollars in spending on hold our pension investment has fallen 13 percent due to the worst name economy and currently over 500000 New Jersey have filed for unemployment as a resident remains out of work and businesses remain closed. We can expect our revenues to remain low. That is why we're considering the governor's most recent proposal to responsibly borrow money through emergency bonds and loans from the federal government. All options remain. On the table, but we in the Legislature of maintaining our independence to ensure that as we borrow this money, we borrow no more than is necessary and have a responsible plan with which to pay it back because we need to maintain the essential programs and services are residents have relied on like unemployment, insurance, family leave, homestead rebate and others The approach to how we proceed with us is critically important for me, there's no price to hide to ensure the successful financial future of our residents as long as we invest in them responsibly that the security. Of our economic resources in the state will also help protect the health care needs of our state because as we all know with our employment comes health insurance with our health insurance comes prescription medication, which allows our residents to live healthy productive lives. The Legislature has already taken action and improves the number of measures to help our state's workforce and small businesses during this crisis, including expanding family leave and temporary disability benefits. We've also passed along which I'm proud to sponsor authorizing Economic development authority. To make grants to businesses during this crisis and we're working with them to make sure that all impacted businesses throughout the state can access financial systems. We realize people in businesses are still hurting and we know that we need to do more. so we've been working with our federal partners to help bring more aid from Washington. Our Congress, our congressional delegation has heard us and through their great leadership, New Jersey starting to see the benefits you may have heard the governor recently announced a multi-state partnership to plan how and win to lift their. Orders and reopen our economy because this economic restart needs to be done in a safe and responsible way with all original partners at the table to maximize its effectiveness into and to prevent a second wave that leads to the crisis. We're in. now, we believe this is a critical step well, this crisis does present unprecedented challenges and also provides an opportunity for our state to invest in innovation. We have the opportunity to rebuild our economy in a way to better ensure long-term financial success so that when the next. Democrats we will be better prepared to get through it. The economy will bounce back. We will get back to work what we do now, however, will determine how strong New Jersey will be when we do reopen and our constant reminder is stay safe. be responsible, but don't be afraid we will get through this. I'm happy to be a part of this panel and I look forward to answering any questions. you may have. Thank you for your. Thank you. Thank you so much and thanks for your hard work and Trenton. it's really been invaluable. for us and we look forward to working with you as our partner as we move forward during this crisis Mayor Bremmer from Chesley Hurst. you've been on the front line of this and your community. let me tell you nobody gets more calls than a mayor doing technical crisis and what we're going through different things. so mayor how are we holding up and how you doing? Thank you so much for your director and Congressman Norcross and also our Assembly been Greenwald here in we are holding up pretty well. we are doing the best that we can here in Chelsea Hurst, You know we have 10 cases we went from zero to 10 and we had 10 cases and I just wanna say thank you for thinking about your first and for all of you guys before everything that you're doing to help all of the. Communities here and all over the County and and we really appreciate your help and I'm looking forward to all the phone calls. so I got the meetings that we have on the conference calls. Thank you so much for not forgetting about the mayors and letting us you know be in on everything that you're doing and trying to keep us up to date with everything and I know that all of you have been on those calls keeping us up to date and I wanna just say that my condolences to all of the families that were lost. people are scared lives are being lost and Only that you know families can't even say goodbye, you know they're they, they can't even visit their the loved ones in the hospital or if they're sick in their homes. they can't visit them so this pandemic has been life changing to not just us but everybody everybody and I just want everybody to know that you know you're not alone and yes, like free like Assembly men, Greenwald said. We will get through this together and it's gonna take all of us to get through this together and that's one of the things that. I just want to leave with Children's borrow and everybody there is hope and here in Hurst I give it up to our police Department. I give it up to them because they're still on the front line all of our frontline workers. Our public works Department. they're still they're on the front line. A lot of people forget about the public works, but they're on the front line or doing a phenomenal job. and of course we change somethings here like Condensing how many employees come in at a time, also like a recyclable. Every week, it's every other week, so we had to make some changes our borrows closed to the public, but guess what our municipal employees are still here. They're still working. you can still call them. You know limited hours, but they're still here. I give it up to all of them because they could say you know what I'm really scared and I'm not coming out my House. I'm not coming and then what would we do what we do what would we do without them and the supermarket and the gas station the people that work there? What would we do without them? So thank you to all of you are on the front line and here in China again, we have a food Bank and we are partnered with the South Jersey, The Food Bank of South Jersey and it's located at the First Baptist Church here in Chelsea, Hurst. It's called The Corner cover pantry and they have been Super busy. I can say my parents are one of the founders. They are the founders of that food Bank and let me tell you just Saturday alone. Gave out over maybe 7000 maybe 10000 pounds of food, you know that's a lot of food and people are coming people are in need. They need food. They need. you know the employment people are calling us about trying to get unemployment and things like that and their families the schools you know and what about the children you know that the kids they're wanna know when it could go back to school or if they will be able to go back to school. But one thing I'm so proud of it. The fact that you know our school here surely be foster school is closed and our kids go to school in Winslow, but Winslow had did a grab and go food for lunch and breakfast for them. so our kids still are able to eat because one thing we know some children, you know, sadly to say that they don't eat you know at home as often as you know, we would want them to of course right, so sometimes the only eat at school. you know. that's a sad thing about it, but that. Just the truth in the way it is, but guess what there's still being able to eat, which I love you know cuz you have to make sure we think about the kid think about the children and I just wanna tell everybody that our food Bank here the emergency food Bank. It's not just for people who live in Chisel Hurst. It's open every third Wednesday of the month, and it's from four to three to step three to seven now because of our orders that we have to be in House early, you should stay home anyway right but when you need to. Food you can come out and get the food also, if I just wanna give a phone number for anybody who may need food and I just wanna say this, please don't let your pride get in the way if everybody is going through something right now, even all of us on this virtual town Hall meeting. We're all affected in some way or another, so don't let your pride get in the way. don't be prideful. If you need food, don't not go to bed hungry. That's the one thing that we can say to you. so please call us at eight five. 68 eight 28 96 zero, If you need some food and I just wanna say thank you once again, you know here in Children's. we're doing the best that we can. We're doing the best that we can hear and we can't do it without all of you and I gotta tell everybody are strong and we will stay you know keeping you guys focused and don't get scared and once again. Thank you Freeholder director thank you so much for being on those mirrors calls with us and thank you Congressman for. The miracles and also all of the Assembly people in Freeholders who have joined us and also Senator Booker and Senator Bob Menendez as well. so thank you for the governor's calls as well. we need it. We need your voice in this hour and I'm so glad that you're here for us. so that's basically all I have right now. you know we have some questions. we'll get into those answers a little later, but once again, just I wanna just give the message of hope that you're not in this alone and we will get through this together. Thank you. Mayor Bremer Thank you for this great comments. Thanks for your leadership and your your positive attitude. that's really needed now and you know every day we report number of new cases and you know the sad news of deaths, but you know the reality is at least in Camden County of those reported cases about 90 -. five percent of people are either in quarantine at home, recovering or already recovered. So there's a lot of hope and optimism and again the care being provided to our residences is second to none if you are in. A question and we don't get to you before 50 'clock, there will be a question and answer section dedicated to this town Hall once this is this recorded branded video is up on the website so we will follow up and with that a majority of our questions that we're receiving. I wanna direct this to someone in Greenwood have to do with questions like will our parks be open anytime soon and we'll schools be closed for the rest of the year. Some of you have any insight on those Free order Thank you for the question I you know, I'm I'm a father of three kids. You know we we have the same concerns and they're asking the same questions. I would tell you from the putting my government had on We need to be very careful that as we are starting to see all the positive numbers that you shared today that we've shared at the state level with the flattening of the curve and more people being discharged from the hospital than going in and we see that concentrated, you know another number that came out today is that we're seeing. This number that used to double every three days is now doubling statewide every 14 to 30 days and in Camden County every seven to 14 days, so the the virus is starting to slow down, but the decision to be made as to whether to open the parks or to open schools really has to be done with the cooperation and the advice and Council of our of our scientist and in our in our health care leaders in the state and we are taking you know direct direction from them. These issues I I believe that what we're seeing in this joint pack with a number of States that as we go through May and then the June that we will start to see parks open that will start to see recreation open again. I think we will see practices with social distancing down at the Jersey Shore all based upon obviously, the modeling that continues to go forward, then filtered through the scientist and the researchers. I don't I don't know if we get to the Middle of May where it seems. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York are headed that at that point, it would necessarily make sense to open schools. I think it would be it would be wiser. probably as you know and we'll take our advice from the Department of Education, but I think it would be wiser to really gear up and make sure that we're ready for the fall session and that we have the necessary protocols in place to make sure that not just that the children are safe, but that they're not transmitters back home to mom, Dad, Grandma and grandpa. Thank you and Congressman And Greenwald, the next question is really geared toward the three of us as many questions regarding how are we procured PPE for our first responders for medical care providers? what average be made by the federal government, the state government and the County to protect our first responders and also our medical care providers so Congress when you do you wanna start with that. and then I'll pass it on and then I'll respond. Let's start at where it was and where it is now. but when I first began it, we have a supply that the federal government has put aside for just such an occasion. It was wonderfully inadequate to say the least and it was a free for all everybody go for yourself It has changed somewhat that we have a person the average in charge of from a federal level, but at the same time that we as federal government are trying to take. Lee we're not doing it for all the States it's going to where the need at that moment is going the National strategy on PPE needs to be a National strategy. Not a strategy will take care of some of it. you take care of it. We'll compete against each other. I can't tell you how many stories that we are given where a local entity had acquired put the order in for people. And we're Trump by the federal government or another state and 50 who paid more, you know we should be working together, but because of the system that has not been set up, we work in our own silos competing with each other and as you understand, you can imagine my state's most important to me and I wanna take care of it first and that's why I wanna say thank you to the Legislature and certainly to the County you have been doing. Best you can coordinate we need to do a better job on the National basis. Let me let me then just talk about what we're doing at the County level and the congressman mentioned it we've been in really what I've described as the wild West and trying to picture this equipment since the crisis began, and it's like States competing against States counties competing against counties, health systems and it's it's been a real problem, but you know we're starting to see we're starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel regarding PPE, so we've tried to assemble as much as we can as a County. Work on a daily basis, we have our purchasing agent, Anna Marie Wright, who spends her entire day calling potential providers of this equipment, which is so needed so needed. There have been times where we've shared our equipment or given it to our local health systems. They've shared their is with ours with us. we've shared it with and we're trying to make sure more for our long-term care facilities. So we're acting is cohesively as possible through the state. And some of Greenwald, the state has done a great job in trying to get some some more equipment down to us here now that the crisis is lighting up a little bit in North Jersey and we're doing our best to distribute it, but it's been a it's been a real problem and if we anticipate a second round of this in the fall, what's many experts are saying this is something we're all gonna have to continue to work out together and make sure it's not a problem as we move forward the next series of I'm sorry Simon. you're you're there. can you can you talk about the state's efforts to get? yeah? you know I think. Really answered it very well. I think at the end of the day, it's really this coordination effort more than anything else, and I think the lack of preparedness going into this virus. What we wanna make sure is we come out of this that we don't have. We don't have a repeat of some of these mistakes. so as we begin this process of opening up going into the summer, there is you know a fear that as we are waiting for the vaccine to come sometime next year that how are we gonna manage if the virus starts to come back in the second way and what we know we need for that is make sure that we have the necessary equipment that we just talked about. Testing, which I think should be included in that as well and access to testing and I think we wanna make sure that whether it's at a statewide level, we're coordinating that in areas of need and risk first, which was in the North and as you said Freeholders now coming South as the as the crisis in the North seems to subside and we're starting to see the virus come a little more South, the other conditions that we put in the social distance in the other protocols will help mitigate that we won't. The same crisis and then making sure that going forward this compact with multiple States on the East Coast will have an acquisition in in a buying power to to leverage that to bring in for the States and then much like we have here in New Jersey. Take that regional approach of where it pops up where the virus hits hardest and then be able to mitigate that. And then the final thing that I know we will talk about is that we should never be relying again in a country like this, we should be producing this for ourselves and make sure that we have the necessary. Piles and I think that's something that from the federal government on down, it's gonna be something that we will be looking at and how do we make that investment and how do we make sure that we have those safety measures in place? Thank you that's that is a great point to somebody when we we need to make more of these products and we're and drugs and test kits and everything necessary for the test kids here in the US so hopefully that will be a policy in National policy moving forward. We have a series of questions numbers of directed to you, Congressman and some of the Greenwald regarding small. Businesses who were not able to get payroll protection funds the last rounds how do we get them now that we have to reapply and also many people are questioning why they're having difficulty making their unemployment claims through the state right now this Sunday and so Congressman you wanna start with the PPE and Cares program Sure the first round of the PPE, which is actually a third round of the bills that we did. Created this fun 350 billion dollars for small businesses to try to retain employees and it would turn it was going out as a loan, but would turn into a Grant in the event that the obligations as employees while remarkably less than two weeks of fun, went empty. That's why I said what I did earlier is we're leaving to vote on the replenishment of those funds plus more tomorrow morning too. But some of the issues that we cannot from the first tranche is that working with the banking system, those who had relationships when he does small businesses, we have relationships with the banks were the first ones in to get their loans approved. that's great for them. That's very unfortunate for the vast majority of smaller businesses in this country, and we've changed the rules a little bit to give a equal chance to those small businesses as much as the big banks. We're all in it together. And we need to be treated that way, but in addition to that the disaster relief fund is also being pushed very heavily. There's a number of funds that you can look into from a business side to look at them all before you make a decision, there's parts of the funding from one would put you in conflict with getting another. So the banks are very good at this. The important thing that we did. this time is to push it down the savings and loans and small banks, the ones that most business. Had a relationship with so that starts tomorrow. Hopefully the President will sign it as soon as we pass it. Thank you. Congressman some women. do you wanna talk about unemployment benefits and the backlog that may exist out there and people being able to make their claims. There's an absolute backlog. many many people have been calling our office. We've been trying to help process it. We cannot promise you that we can make it go faster, but we can promise you that we will track it. You will get personal phone calls back from us as well as from the legislators throughout our southern. Delegation that we've been working with the problem is that the technology was wonderfully antiquated. it's compounded by antiquated technology with over 500000 people that have filed for unemployment. Those are not excuses. Those are facts. This takes us to record numbers as the kindness man said back to the Great Depression if you think during Superstorm Sandy, which we all know the crisis that caused we had about 40 - 3000 people filed for unemployment we've had over 500000 people file in the last. The good news is there was a major purchase of laptops that were sent home to workers because some people that work in an appointment are working from home. Just like we all are so that we hope will help start to impact these backlogs and the numbers and the one thing I would ask people. I know the strain. That's why I talked about in our opening. the pressure is on the economic side and some of the stress that that calls for people causes for people on the health care side, but try to be patient. We will help you process them to the extent that we can. We know the state has now loaded up on these laptops. We have to get it moving the good news is that you will not miss a day of this once you're if we go and open up in June and people go back to work, you will get every penny the unemployment that you're entitled to in the maximum that's been increased from the federal government and the Cares Act to make sure that people are covered across the board and we would encourage you with some of the things that we've done in New Jersey with the governor. To make sure that many of the mortgage companies are giving loan forgiveness many of the insurance companies on other insurance are doing the same. let's take advantage of those programs while we are processing these claims and what our record numbers and that so please don't hesitate to call our office. but that's really what is causing the backlog. and now we're trying to address that with the investment in some of the laptops and the new technology. Some women that we're also getting a lot of questions about the property tax payment schedule, so of course, taxes are are doing May there's as far as I know the state is not granted the municipalities any flexibility in extending the due date of property taxes is that is that the case that is the case there is a bill that has been introduced by my friend Assemblyman Caribbean. Check to move the property tax filings to July fifteenth to correspond with the state income tax in the. Income tax movement to those dates as well. you know the concern is as we are stumbling through with all the other funding issues with the pollution of revenue. We are those property taxes or what funds public education and the necessary resources. We're gonna need to open school safely. So we think that there's a way that we can move in and move it responsibly. But at the same time there has to be a balance of the revenues that are gonna be needed to come in. so it really is it comes back. Have we started the conversation? How do we open our state and our region of the country back up? How do you do it responsibly based on the science and make sure that we don't open too soon where we cause a retreat to back to where we are, but we do it in a way that is responsible and safe so that our economy comes back to help make sure that these funds can come in. Thank you and and and Mayor Bremmer. It's my understanding that many municipalities in Camden County are considering either eliminating any interest or penalties. For late payments of property taxes, in May is that the case mayor Yes, that's one of the things that we talked about you know on our mayor calls some towns have already did it like it's May they passed a resolution if it's due on May first right, so they'll hold out the penalties, but only it's for a month or so for 30 days. So from May to June, you know and that's only and that's only just from May to June, not past people like people who owe from past taxes and stuff like that we wanna try to keep a grip line. So that's one of the things that we will discuss in our next agenda, but it's only from May to June. Thank you. Thank you very much. we also are getting a lot of questions about more details about how and where you get tested. So if you go to Camden County dot com, you can get all the information you need regarding where our test sites are and how you get tested. Basically, in order to get tested, you need to have a referral from a doctor and to be symptomatic, they have been having one of the symptoms of the virus. However, at each of our testing sites, we also are giving some social advice and health care advice on how to deal with this crisis. What you need to do to get a doctor's referral If you don't know how to do so so, although we're just we're providing testing, we're also providing some ceramic services and go along with that the sites once again or at the Waterfront in Camden City, just North of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Parking lot of Camden County College in Blackwood We will be announcing by the end of this week, a new test site in Camden City The right aid in Barrington also has a test site if you have any questions about getting a referral, please call your doctor. First, your doctor can give you a lot of guidance on how to get these tests because our health systems Cooper Virtual. Jefferson also have their own test site, so if you're in their systems, you can get into their test sites as well. we're really trying to ramp up testing and as I mentioned earlier, that's one of the reasons why we will see in the next few weeks higher numbers in Camden County, but that's simply reflective of the fact that more people are getting tested again. If you've asked a question and it's not been answered we will be posting those answers after this recorded meeting. Up, I wanna take this opportunity to thank our Congressman Donald Norcross as some Greenwald and Mayor Brammer for taking time out of their day to participate in its virtual town Hall meeting as the congressman said we've had over 60 or 7010 Hall meetings. This is the first for us to do virtually so thank you all for taking the time Residents of Camden County. Thank you for the sacrifices you're making we need to keep at this. Stay home If you go out and you have to go out to my food or anything else social distancing wear mask wash your hands. Let's keep fighting this fight. We're gonna get through this as the mayor said. We're all gonna get through this together and there's clearly clearly our better days ahead, but the sooner we're all healthy. The quicker will all be benefiting from the wonderful County that we live in so stay healthy. Everybody. Thank you for tuning in today. Thanks for having us keep smiling guys.